diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/nxos.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/nxos.py
index 5660699c3ab..538a9108e3c 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/nxos.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/nxos.py
@@ -99,10 +99,7 @@ class ActionModule(_ActionModule):
             self._task.args['provider'] = provider_arg
 
         # make sure a transport value is set in args
-        transport = self._task.args.get('transport')
-        provider_transport = (self._task.args.get('provider') or {}).get('transport')
-        if all((transport is None, provider_transport is None)):
-            self._task.args['transport'] = 'cli'
+        self._task.args['transport'] = transport
 
         return super(ActionModule, self).run(tmp, task_vars)